EPBP, Bad Axe headed in opposite directions

Published 12:39 pm, Monday, April 25, 2016

The Lakers ran their winning streak to six games after disposing of Bad Axe, 62-35, on Thursday. More importantly, they stayed unbeaten in the Greater Thumb West at 5-0.

"We've been playing good, and it's been consistent play from everyone," said EPBP coach Todd Comment. "It's like a different player that steps up every night."

Against the Hatchets, that player was senior guard Amanda Chiotti, who dropped in a season-high 19 points, including five triples.

"Tonight, she was on fire, and what I liked about it was that all the rest of the girls on the team were looking for her," Comment said. "If someone has the hot hand, there's no selfishness on this team at all.

"It was great to see Amanda score. She's been playing awesome, but hasn't been scoring points."

Comment noted there is a reason Chiotti's points are down a little from last year. With a pair of underclassmen in freshman Kaycee Damm and sophomore Sam Krueger combining to score nearly 25 points per game, the pressure to score isn't as great on Chiotti.

"We didn't have the ball handling last year, so she had to run the point. Now, we move her everywhere. We can move her off picks, and give her a better opportunity to shoot the ball."

For all the success EPBP's been having, the story couldn't be more different for Bad Axe, which is in the midst of a nine-game losing streak.

Injuries have also hit the team hard, creating a trickle down effect which wiped out both junior varsity games this week.

"As a coach, all I ask out of the players is that they give me everything, and I think they do," said Bad Axe coach Kelli Johnson. "I feel for the players, I know it has to be frustrating on them.

"I think we all need to just realize the situation we're in, and play hard every night."

Johnson hopes the situation with having no junior varsity is only a short-term problem, but it depends on getting enough players healthy to field both teams.

The game started off well enough for the Hatchets as they trailed 16-10 after the first quarter. They cut the deficit to 16-14 in the first two minutes of the second, but Peterson was whistled for a technical foul.

That sent Chiotti to the line. She made good on both, and then connected on a triple to give the Lakers the momentum for good. From there, EPBP stretched its advantage to 36-19 by halftime.

"I've seen technicals change the course of a game in a ton of games," Johnson said. "As much as you try and pull your team back and not let it bother you, I think the other team usually capitalizes, and that's what they did.

"Dana knows she did something wrong and feels bad about, and just left it at that."

The game is the Lakers' first home contest since a Sept. 28 win over Ubly. During that stretch, the team played four road games, with three of those against GTW opponents.

EPBP will finish up its road stretch with games at Unionville-Sebewaing Area and Bay City All Saints next week. After that, the Lakers will play only one GTW road contest for the rest of the season, at Bad Axe on Nov. 9.

"The girls know whats at stake (next week)," Comment said about playing for a GTW title.

There will be no title dreams for Bad Axe this year, but Johnson is hoping her team can get healthy enough to compete in the post-season.

"That's our goal right now, obviously, we're not looking at a league title, Johnson said. "So, it's a matter of just trying to finish up strong and look toward the post-season."